Macey L. Levan (US)

In this episode of Behind the Paper, Macey Levan, Social Media Editor for the Transplantation journals, speaks with Robert Freercks and Kathryn Manning about their article. Kathryn Manning will be presenting this work at TTS 2026.

Transplantation Improves Patient Survival in a PD-first Program in South Africa

The discussion focuses on kidney replacement therapy and transplantation access in a public sector renal program in South Africa. The study followed patients with kidney failure referred to a public sector renal unit and highlights the major impact of resource constraints, strict selection criteria, and limited transplantation capacity.

The episode explores South Africa’s PD-first model, the challenges faced by patients who need kidney replacement therapy, and the barriers that remain even for patients who are accepted into dialysis care. The authors emphasize that transplantation dramatically improves survival when patients are able to access it, but that broader system-level improvements are needed to expand treatment capacity and improve equity.

The conversation also highlights the importance of primary prevention, stronger data collection systems, policy advocacy, and increased funding in resource-constrained settings.

How do you build a uterus transplantation program — and what does the future of this field look like?

In this interview, Associate Professor Rebecca Deans discusses the evolution of uterus transplantation, the clinical and ethical challenges involved in establishing a program, and why this emerging field is becoming such an important part of the broader transplantation landscape.

Dr. Deans reflects on the complex coordination required across multiple medical teams, the importance of support from an experienced transplantation center, and the key ethical considerations involved — including donor risk, informed patient understanding, and the impact of immunosuppressive therapy during pregnancy.

The conversation also explores how uterus transplantation compares to the early development of IVF, why the field is still in its infancy, and where future advances may take it. Dr. Deans also discusses the role of IVF before transplantation and the need for more research on outcomes, complications, and long-term success.

This interview is part of our featured speaker series leading up to The Transplantation Society (TTS) 2026 International Congress in Sydney.

🔬 Topics discussed:
• Uterus transplantation program development
• Ethics in reproductive transplantation
• IVF and transplantation
• Multidisciplinary clinical coordination
• Future directions in uterus transplantation

What if biomaterials could help the body repair itself?

In this interview, Professor Anthony “Tony” Weiss of the University of Sydney discusses how synthetic biology, elastin biomaterials, and regenerative medicine are reshaping the future of transplantation. He is the McCaughey Chair in Biochemistry at the University of Sydney, where his work focuses on human tropoelastin and tissue repair. 

Professor Weiss explains the shift from traditional inert materials toward “instructive” environments that actively interact with cells and support tissue regeneration. He also shares how his lab has advanced the manufacture of human elastin-based biomaterials, and why scalability and translation matter if regenerative medicine is to move from exciting science to real clinical impact. 

The conversation looks ahead to the future of the field, including off-the-shelf bioengineered constructs, the idea of “regenerative architects,” and the importance of understanding how cells respond to their environment. Professor Weiss also highlights the kinds of research he is most excited to see as regenerative medicine and transplantation continue to converge. His TTS 2026 appearance is listed within the Congress SOTA/Thematic program on regenerative medicine. 

This interview is part of our featured speaker series leading up to the The Transplantation Society (TTS) 2026 International Congress in Sydney. 

🔬 Topics discussed:
• Elastin biomaterials and tissue repair
• Synthetic biology in regenerative medicine
• Instructive biomaterials and cell interaction
• Translational tissue engineering
• The future of bioengineered constructs

In this interview, Professor Ton J. Rabelink (Leiden University Medical Center) discusses the future of regenerative medicine and the exciting progress toward transplantable organs through vascularized kidney organoids.

Professor Rabelink was interviewed by Macey Levan, Social Media Editor for the Transplantation journals, as part of our featured speaker series leading up to The Transplantation Society (TTS) 2026 International Congress in Sydney.

The conversation explores how advances in stem cell biology, organoid engineering, and regenerative medicine are reshaping the future of kidney disease treatment and transplantation. Professor Rabelink also shares insights into the challenges that remain before bioengineered tissues can be translated into clinical therapies.

📍 Session: Plenary – Towards transplantable organs: Vascularized kidney organoids for renal regeneration

🔬 Topics discussed:
• Kidney organoids and regenerative medicine
• Vascularization and functional organ development
• Translational pathways from laboratory to clinic
• The future of organ replacement therapies